2021-01 minutesRichfield Human Rights Commission
Monthly Meeting Minutes
January 5, 2021
Members Present: Heather Eastlund, Katie Goodemote, Michele Thompson, Todd
Diede, Tasha Ostendorf, Mara Glubka, Kris Anderson, Carrie Chillman
Public Safety Liaison: Mike Flaherty
City Council Liaison: Mary Supple
School Board Liaison: Allegra Smisek
Note: meeting held via WebEx
1. Meeting called to order by Chair Eastlund at 6:34 pm.
2. Motion to approve agenda: Glubka/Chillman seconded, motion carried.
3. Motion to approve minutes: Glubka/Anderson seconded, motion carried.
4. Open Public comment: None
5. Reports:
a. Chair’s report: Eastlund noted that this will be her last meeting as a member of
the RHRC.
b. Vice Chair’s report: none
c. Secretary’s report: Diede noted that this will be his last meeting as a member of
the RHRC.
d. School Board Liaison report: Smisek mentioned that she is in discussions with
Sarah Jesperson about a land acknowledgement and asked if the RHRC would
like to be involved.
e. City Council Liaison report: Supple thanked RHRC members for their service.
She also mentioned that the application deadline for new commissioners has
been extended until January 15 due to technical issues with the new city website.
If the online application is not working, an application can be obtained by
emailing kwynn@Richfieldmn.gov. The City has also hired its Equity and
Inclusion Administrator, who will likely plan to join RHRC meetings in the future.
f. Public Safety Liaison report: Flaherty mentioned that the Police Department is
planning to start implementing body cameras the week of January 10. The
Department is also is the process of hiring another Latinx officer.
6. New Business
a. Outgoing commissioner appreciation: Eastlund, Chillman, and Diede were
thanked for their service.
b. Election of officers for 2021: The following officers were elected for 2021:
Chair: Mara Glubka
Vice Chair: Katie Goodemote
Secretary: Kris Anderson
c. Discuss new officer orientation and plan for welcoming new officers at February
2021 meeting: Supple mentioned that the City is planning an orientation for new
commissioners. Glubka and Goodemote will determine whether they will hold an
additional orientation for new RHRC commissioners.
d. Equity & Inclusion Administrator Interviews: Eastlund recapped her involvement
in the hiring of Richfield’s Equity and Inclusion Administrator and spoke highly of
the new hire. Anderson concurred.
7. Unfinished Business
a. Review draft 2021 work plan:
Commissioners tentatively expressed interest in working on the initiatives as
follows:
• Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration: Anderson, Goodemote, Ostendorf
• Naturalization Ceremony
• Proclamations
• Penn Fest: Goodemote
• Partnerships in the Community: Anderson
• Outstanding Citizen of the Year: Anderson
• Racial Covenants and Structural Racism in Richfield
• DEI Work Plan
• Conversion Therapy Ban: Glubka, Ostendorf
• Review and Update Bylaws: Anderson, Thompson
• Ranked-choice voting
Additional discussion and committee-forming will happen at the February RHRC
meeting.
8. Announcements/Open Forum: none
9. Next meeting: Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 6:30pm (via WebEx)
10. Motion for adjournment: Glubka/Chillman seconded, motion carried. Meeting adjourned
at 7:40pm.
Submitted by Todd Diede 1/12/2021